Bearing



A. KiNGSBURY.

BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1918.

.Patente'dsept. 19,192

4 SHEETSSHEET 1. 9 /7 A. KINGSBURY.

BEARING. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4, I9I8I 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PatentedSept. 19, 1922.

A TOR/VHS.

3.5 ment is not claimed broadly herein, such be- Sept. '19, 11922.

more. i,

ALBERT KINGSB'URY, OF "PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

BEARING.

@riginalapplication filed March 25, 1916, Serial No. 86,535. Divided and this application filed March-14,

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, ALBERT Kixosnnnr, a citizen of the United States of America, and "a resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and State of Pennsylvania, have m .vented certain new and useful Improvements in Bearings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. My invention relates to bearings and particularly to thrust bearings of the type em- "ploying tiltable bearing portions, segments,

:or shoes and wherein a lubricating film is 25, 1916, and is in part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 188,726 filed August 29, 1917.

It is sometimes desirable to. utilize only two bearing portions, segments orshoe members for taking the thrust pressure in a hearing of the character above-indicated, and my present invention has special reference to means for: supporting two-bearing por -tions, segments or shoe members, preferably tiltably, so as to equitably distribute the pressure between them; this distribution being effected practically without friction .by the use of a pressure-distributing member having only one line or axisof pivotal movement, A pressure-distributing member having only one line or axis of pivotal moveing the subject of claims in my application Serial No. 188,726 above referred to; the present invention being directed more particularly to pressure-distributing members a "of this type which may be readily inserted into and withdrawn from position without disassembling the other members of the bearing. w I

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and compact pressure-distributing or equalizing member which isso con-- structed and arranged as to conserve material while reducing the tendency of said member to become distorted. p

-In order that. my invention may be thoroughly understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same in the'following specification, and will then point out the novel Serial Ito. 222,337.

features thereof in appended claims. The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which are shown on the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the draw ngs are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 1s a longitudinal section of a horizontal thrust bearing arranged and constructed in accordance with my invention and constituting one embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line'2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail taken on the I tical thrust bearing and illustrates another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a portion of the pressure-distributing member of Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 10 shows a portion of a bearing in which one of the oppositely disposed shoe members is divided or separated into two connected and coacting shoe elements, which together constitute a single tiltably supported unitor group.

Figures 11 and 13 are views which correspond to Figure 8 and which show other embodiments of my invention.

Figures 12 and 14 are partially sectioned plan views of the structures shown respectively in Figures 11 and 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a modification of one of the parts of the Figures 13-14: construction. V

In the form shown in Figures 1 to Ginclusive 1O designates a horizontal shaft having a thrust collar 11. A hearing hous- '40 in conjunction with the pivotal movement ture 16 for mounting the same being inter posed on each side of the thrust collar between the surfaces 13 and 14.

The structure 16, in the form here shown, comprises an interrupted or segmental filler ring 17 having a filler block 18 at 'tached thereto, and an interrupted pressure-distributing or equalizing ring 19 having knife edge projections 20, or other suitable supports, which are preferably in diametrical alignment and which provide a single pivotal axis on which said ring 19 may rock or tilt onsaid filler ring 17.

Ring 19, in the form shown, has a flange 21 which is cut away at opposite sides to receive the shoes '15 and is provided with a pair of inserts 22, preferably in. the form of hardened blocks with spherically curved top surfaces on which the shoes are mounted. Each shoe preferably has a spherically curved insert 23 in its bottom surface which is arranged to cooperate with one of the insents 22 and permit the shoe to tilt both tangentially and radially on said ring.

The points of pivotal support for the shoes are preferably diametrically opposite and are offset relatively to the knife edge projections 20 so that the tilting of the ring on the knife edge projections serves,

of the shoes themselves, to equitably distribute the pressure over the engaging surfaces-of the shoes and the thrust collar.

,1 Since the filler ring 17 and the ring 19 are both interrupted, it is'easy to insert them in place, or to remove them for in-.

splection or repairs, -withou't disassembling the other members of the bearing. They are assembled as shown in Figure 3 with the block 18-set loosely into the opening-in the ring 19. The'block 18 may be provided with flanges 24 and 25 which are continu-- ations of the flanges 21 and 26 of the ring 19 and which form, in conjunction therewith,'an annular channel for the circulation of the oil under and around the shoe members 15-15.

Attention is also directed to the fact that, in the construction just described, the points of pivotal support forfthe shoes are relatively close to the knife edgeprojections on which the ring is supported, and

'- there is therefore very little tendency for the ring to be distorted by the thrust pressures on the bearing members. For this reason the ringdoes not need to be as thick and strong as it must be when the line of the knife edges is at right angles to the line of the shoe supports.

The structure above described is also particularly well adapted for, although not restricted to use in, horizontal thrust bearings having a divided housing-such as is shown in Figures 1 and 2si-nce the upper half of the housing may be readily removed to give access .to the shoes and the parts of the pressure-distributing structure, and permit them to be easily removed,

whenever necessary, either collectively or individually. The stationary members have been shown as duplicated on opposite sides of the thrust collar 11, but such members may be provided on only one-side of said'collar if the-thrust is to be in one direction only. It is also to be understood that, while'illustratedin conjunction with a bearing for a horizontal shaft, the pressure distributing structure heretofore described tical shafts.

In the form shown'in Figures 7 and 8, the structure comprises a vertical shaft 30 to which a thrust block 31 is attached. Removably secured to the thrust block, by bolts 32 or other suitable means, is a thrust collar 33 having a bearing surface 34.

is equallv applicable to bearings for ver- The shaft extends through an opening 35 in a stationary frame or foundation 36 and the thrust collar 33 cooperates with a pair of bearing portions, segments or shoes 69. u

The base 36 has an annular rib 65 and projections 66 and mounted upon this base is a pressurerdistributing or equalizing ring 67 which'has a knife edge or other suitable projections 37, preferably in diametrical alinement, and a pair of upwardly extending spherically faced lugs 68. which are located on opposite sides of shown midway between the knife edgeproections which constitute the single pivotal axis of-the ring. 1

. The bearing shoes 69 are tiltably mounted on the lugs 68 and are held in place by an annular guide 70 :which is provided with internally projecting lugs 71', 71 that engage with the ends of the shoes. The pressure distributlng ring 67 is held in place by the- In order to make the ring 67 capable of ready removal I prefer to divide it transversely on a plane, such as 72, which is preferably located approximately midway v between the planes of the points 68 and 37 of the shoe and ring supports. When so div ded the abutting ends of the separable no the axis of the bearing and in the" form rin maybe supported on each other by is subjected at these points 'to transverse shearing stresses only) but I prefer to secure the halves of the ring together by light screw bolts 73 which prevent any accidental separation or displacement of the parts.

In order to provide for the easy lateral removal of the divided ring 67-as Well as the shoes 69 when desired-the annular guide ring 70 is preferably also split or divided diametrically-as on the plane 38, 38-so as to permit eitherhalf of the ring to be separably detached from the base frame 36, thus leaving one side of the an; nular channel, in which the pressure-distributing member and the shoes are enclosed, entirely open.

Instead of using one quite long shoe-- such as is shown in Figure 7-on each side of the bearing shaft, I may use two or more shoes mounted in asingle group or unit on .each of the oppositely disposed pivot supports 68, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1().

In the form here shown the separate shoe elements 43, 43 of each group are pivotally supported on, and connected by, a block or lever e0, which is itself tiltably mounted, either on one of the spherical projections 68, or on a knife edge support 41 that is carried either by the ring member 67 or extends downwardly from the block 40 as shown.

Another single-axis pressure-distributing or equalizing structure for supporting a pair of bearing portions, segments or shoes on opposite sides of the shaft and in such manner as to permit of easy lateral removal of the parts, is shown in Figures 11 and 12. In the form here shown the structure comprises a pressure-distributing member 75, which has the form of an interrupted ring or horseshoe-shaped part-somewhat like that shown in Figure 4-which is tiltably mounted on'downwardly extending ribs or projections 7 6 that form a single axis knife edge, or equivalent support, for the member. The projecting ends of the member 7 5 are preferably reduced in thickness and provided with rounded notches to receive the ends of the bridge-bar 77 which is provided with an upwardly extending sphericallyended stud 78 on which one of a pair of bearing shoes 79 is tiltabl mounted. The other shoe is mounted on t e opposite side of the shaft on a similar stud 80 on the member 75.

The member may be mounted either directly on the base or on a filler block 81 having a guide projection 82 similar to the structure shown in Figure 5. Both the mem er 75 and the filler block projection are provided with upwardly extending annular flanges 83, 83, and 8 1, 84 which embrace the inner and outer edges of the shoes 7 9 and hold them against rotation with the thrust collar.

In the form shown in Figures 13 and 14, the pressure-distributing or equalizing member comprises a pair of tiltable blocks 85 disposed on opposite sides of the shaft and a pair of bridge blocks 87. The blocks 85 are mounted at their centers on knife edge projections or equivalent supports 86 that are preferably in diametrical --alignment. They are also preferably provided at their outer ends with transverse groovesin which the bridge blocks 87 are seated. Each bridgejablock is shown as provided with a rounde projection 88 on which one of the oppositely disposed bearing shoes is mounted in such manner as to rock or tilt freely in all directions. The bearing shoes are held in proper position on their supports and are] prevented from rotation with the thrust collar 33 by means of annular flanges 89, 89 that extend upwardly from the base ring 36 and engage -loosely- 1n segmental recesses 1n the lower outer edges of the shoes. In some cases 1 find it desirable to provide each bridge block 87 with lugs -90 which are tapped to receive the ends of bolts 91 that pass loosely through holes in theflanges 89 and serve to prevent any accidental overturning of the bridge blocks 87. 1

In the form shown in Figure 15 each side bar is united at one end to one of the bridge blocks so as to form an L-shaped pressuredistributing element 95 that is provided at the center of its long leg with a transverse knife edge support 86, and at the center of its short leg with a spherical projection 88 that constitutes, as before, the pivot support for one of the bearing shoes. The end of the long leg of the L is provided with a transverse groove to receive the end of the short leg of the second L-shaped element which is oppositely disposed on the other side of the shaft with its knife edge support preferably in diametrical alignment with the corresponding support 86.

In both the constructions last described the bars 85, 85, and 87, 87 (or the two L- shaped bars 95) constitute a cradle support for the two oppositely disposed bearing shoes; and the rocking movement of the cradle on its single knife edge line of support serves, in conjunction with the tilting movement of the shoes, to equitably distribute the thrust pressures over the bearing surfaces in substantially the same manner as that result is accomplished in the constructions illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, and T to 9, hereinbefore considered.

The structures of Figures 11. 1'2, and 13. 14, 15, also possess the characteristic of permitting the easy removal of the separable pressure-distributing member by a simple lateral or sidewise movement of the divisible elements to one side of the shaft.

The term knife-edge support is used herein broadly to mean any suitable mounting which permits the pressure-distributing member to tilt about a single axis or line; therefore it is evident that the supporting projections may be of any desired shape and form that will accomplish that result, and may be provided on either of the opposed coacting members. So also the projections mounting the bearing portions, shoes, or segments on the pressure-distributing members may be provided on either of said' parts.

While the bearing segments have been shown as of equal area, and the axis about which the pressure-distributing member tilts has been shown as passing through the axis of the shaft, such arrangement is not essential as it is apparent that said areas may differ or said axis may be laterally displaced to a suitable extent to secure differential sustaining pressures. Furthermore, while the improved pressure-distributing member has been shown as applied only to the stationary of the relatively rotatable bearing members it is apparent that, by suitable variation, it could be employed in conjunction with tiltable bearing segments constituting a partof the rotatable member.

The arrangement of the tilting axis of the I pressure-distributing member at right an gles to the line on which the bearing segments are mounted ,on said member, as shown in Figs. 7 to 15, is not specifically claimed herein but forms the subject of claims in my application Sr. No. 188,726, above identified.

Structures of preferred form and con struction have been illustrated and described for the purpose of showing ways in which this invention may be used, but the inventive thought upon which this a plication is based is broader than these i1 ustrative embodiments thereof, and I therefore intend .no

- limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is: '1

1. A bearing comprising a pressure-distributing member tiltably-mounted on a single axis, said member being divisible to permit radial removal of parts thereof, and bearing segments mounted on said pressure distributing member.

.2. A bearing comprising a pressure-distributing member embracing the shaft and tiltably-mounted on a single axis, said memher being constructed to be removed radially of the shaft, and bearing segments mounted on said memberon opposite sides of the shaft.

3. A bearing comprising a pressure-distributing member extending on opposite sides of the shaft and tiltably-mountedon a single axis, said member being removable by member tiltably mounted movement radially of the shaft, and bearingsegments tiltably-mounted on said member.

4:. A- bearing comprising a pressure-distributing member embracing the shaft and tlltably-mounted on single axis, said memher being laterally removable from the bearing, and two bearing segments mounted'on said mei'nber on diametrically opposite sides thrust surface, a pair of bearing shoes co operating with said surface and' disposed on opposite sides of the shaft, and means for supporting the shoes and distributing thepressurethereon, comprising an open ring on the stationary member of the bearing.

7. A thrust bearing comprising a stationary member, .a shaft having an annular thrust surface, a pair of bearing shoes cooperating with said surface and disposed on opposite sides of the shaft, means for sup-- porting the shoes anddistributing the pressure thereon, comprising an open ring memher tiltably mounted on the stationary member of the bearing, and a filler member having a projection adapted to substantially complete said ring when assembled in position.

8. A thrust; bearing comprising a ringshaped equalizer having a knife edge .support and bearing shoes mounted on the equalizer near the line of supportand on opposite sides thereof.

9. thrust bearing comprising a ringshaped equalizer having a diametrical knife edge support and bearing shoes mounted on the equalizer near the lineof support and at diametrically opposite points on the ring. 10. A thrust bearing comprising a shaft having a thrust bearing member and a relatively stationarycooperating bearing member, one of said members comprising an equalizer substantially concentric with the shaft and mounted on a knife edge support,

and apair of bearing shoes tiltalbly mounted thereon on a line making an acute angle with the knife edge'support.

11. A thrust bearing comprising a shaft having a thrust bearing member and a relatively stationary cooperatingbearing memher, one of said members comprising an' equalizer substantially'concentric with the shaftand mounted on a knife edge support, and a pair of bearing shoes mounted-for bot-h radial and tangential tilting on the equalizer on a line'making an acute angle with the knife edge support.

12. A thrust bearing comprising a shaft having a thrust collar, an open equalizer extending on opposite sides of the shaft and having a knife edge support in a diametrical plane, and bearing shoes mounted on the equalizer on opposite sides of the axis of its support.

thrust bearing comprising a shaft having a thrust collar, an open equalizer ex- 14. An equalizer means for thrust bearings comprising a curved filler block adapt ed to partially surround the shaft antlian interrupted equalizer ringhaving support ing projectionsradapted to be mounted on the filler block, ,thefiller block having a projection adapted to substantially complete prlsing'a pair of bearing shoes arranged on opposite sides of the shaft, and an equalizer" the equalizerfring when assembled in posi tion. 1 I

15; The combinat on of a substantially ;horizontal shaft having a thrust collar, a two-part housing surrounding the collar and the adjacent portions of the shaft, a filler block in. the form of an interrupted ringremovably mounted in the housing and p'arti a-llyasu rroundingthe shaft, an equalizer; removably mounted in the housing between the filler block and the adjacent surface of the thrust collar, a knife edge support for the equalizer, and bearing shoes cooperating with thet-hrust collar and mounted on the equalizer on support. fv,

16. The combination of a substantially horizontal shaft having a thrust collar, a two-part housing surrounding thecollarand the adjabent portions of the shaft, a filler block in the form of an interrupted ring removably mounted in the housing and pai tially surrounding the shaft, an equalizer removably mounted in the housing between the filler block andthe adjacent surface of the thrust collar. a knife edge support for the equalizer, and bearing shoes cooperating with the thrust collar and mounted on the equalizer on opposite sides ofthe axis of the support, said equalizer being arranged to hold the shoes in position.

. 17. in a thrust bearing, the combination ofrelatively rotatable bearing members commember arranged to tiltably support the said shoes and adapted to be removed laterally from the bearing without disturbing eltherof the said bearing members.

1 18. lnaithrust bearing, the combination of athrust collar secured to the shaft, a stationary base, ring, a pair of bearing shoes" arranged on opposite sldes of theshafaand" opposite sides of the axis of the of the bearing structure. I

23, A bearin comprising apressure-dis-l *tributing wa an equalizer member for said shoes adapted to be laterall removed from the bearing the base ring.

19. A thrust bearing comprising a sta-. tionary member, a shaft having an annular thrust surface, a pair of bearing shoes -co-' operating with said surface and disposed on opposite sides of the shaft, means for supporting the shoes and distributing the pressure thereon comprising an open ring member tiltably mounted on the stationary member of the bearing, and means associated with said ring and adapted to substantially complete the same when assembled in position.

20. In a thrust bearing, the combination of relatively rotatable bearing members provided with bearing surfaces .Which engage with each other on opposite sides of the shaft, and a divisible member mounted to rock about'a single line of support and adapted to equitably distribute the thrust pressures on the oppositely disposed bearing surfaces. '21. In a thrust bearing, the combination of a thrust collar secured to the shaft, a stationary base ring, a pair of'bearing shoe members located on opposite sides of, the shaft, and a divisible equalizer member in.- terposed between the shoes and the base ring and adapted when divided to be laterally removed and replaced without disturbing the thrust collar or the base ring.

22. In a thrust bearing, the combination of the'shaft, and an equalizer member surrounding-the shaft and adapted to equalize the bearing'pressures on said bearing en- Without distur ing either the thrust collar or of relatively rotatable'bearing members in-L eluding bearing segments on opposite sides oagement, the said equalizingmemb er be mg separable into elements eachof which can be removed laterally from the, bearing Without displacement of'th'e other members tributing memer tiltably mounted on asingle axis, and twodiametrically ,opposed bearing segments mounted on said member one line making an oblique angle With said axis.

able bearing members including bearing segments, and pressure-d stributing means for 'said'bearing segments comprising a tiltably-mounted nterrupt sti ring member.

24. .A. bearing comprising relatively rotatfor mounting the same to tilt abouta single axis i Q i, j; i 2 6 A :bear in' fi'coxnprising pres s ure-di'sa t ltably mounted on 1 asingle axis, and bearing segments mounted on said member on. a line making an oblique angle With said axis.

27. In a bearing, relatively rotatable bearing members including bearing segments on opposite sides of the shaft, and pressuredistributing means for said segments comprisinga tiltably-mounted member adapted tobe removed radially from the hearing. 28. In a bearing, relatively rotatable bearmg members including bearing segments on I opposite sides of the shaft, and a pressuredistributing member forsaid segment-s tiltably-mounted on a single axis and having an interruption adapted to permit the insertion and removal of said member by movement transversely of the shaft.

29. In a bearing, relatively rotatable bearing members including bearing segments,

and a tiltable-pressure-distributing member for said segments, said pressure-distributing adapted to extend on opposite. sides of'a member bein divisible to permit removal of its parts radlally of the bearing.

30. Pressure-distributing means for thrust bearings comprising an interrupted member "shaft and provided With projections Whereby the same may tilt about a single axis.

31. Pressure-d1stributing means for thrust bearings comprising separable members tiltable about a single axis and adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from operative position by movement transversely-to the axis of the shaft.

32. A thrust bearing comprising a shaft;

having a thrust bearing member and a relatively stationary cooperating bearing memher, one of said members comprising'an iIipressure distributing member embracing the shaft and tiltably terrupted annular mounted on a single axis, and bearing segments mounted on said member on opposite sides of said axis. I

33. A thrust bearing comprising relatively rotatable bearing members including hearing segments, and pressure-distributing means for said bearing-segments comprisinga tiltably-mounted interrupted-mug member, and means associated with said member for completing said ring.

34. In a thrust bearing, the combination "of relatively rotatable bearing members including bearing segments on opposite sides of the shaft, and pressure-distributing means for said segments comprising an interrupted-ring member adapted to be removed laterally from the bearing.

35. In a thrust bearing, the combination of relatively rotatable bearing members, including bearing segments, and pressure-distributing means for mounting said segments comprising a member extending on ,oppo-i site sides of the shaft andremovable laterally from the bearing Without displacing the bearing parts.

36. :In a thrust bearing, the combination of relatively rotatable bearing members including bearing segments, and pressure-distributingmeans for mountin said segments :COIIIPIiSlIlg means 'surroun ing the shaft and removablelaterally from the bearing Without displacing the bearing parts. y

37. In a thrust bearing, the combination of relatively rotatable bearing members including bearing segments, and pressure-distributing means for mounting said segments comprism a divisible member removable laterally rom the bearing without displacing the bearing'parts.

38. In a bearing, relatively rotatable bean ing members including bearing segments,

and =a tiltably-mounted pressure-distributing member for said segments, said member ALBERT KINGSBURY.

embracing the -shaft and being constructed for removal'transversely of the axis of the 

